Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Building the tension...

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is a slow burn. Mead takes you into the lives of two teenage girls Rose Hathaway and Valisia Dragomir. These two young ladies are tied together by more than just friendship, Lissa  saved Rose's life when they were young through magic, and now they are bound. Rose has sworn to become Lissa's Guardian at all costs, even when the adults at the academy make it clear that might not happen. Throw in Rose's growing attraction to her mentor, Dimitri (a guy several years her senior), and your standard high school rivalries, and a type of vampire known as Strigoi (vampires who have killed or been turned) and you have an intriguing cast of characters. Although at spots I found the book to drag along, the tension picked up and Ms. Mead kept my attention, which can sometimes be hard to do. (Oh look! A chicken!) A recommended read for YA and adults alike, Mead does a credible job of building a world we can all delve into. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

4 stars, Keeps you guessing

About Richelle

Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens.  Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths. She received a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, an MA in Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, and a Master in Teaching (Middle & High School English) degree from the University of Washington. In the end, she decided writing was the way for her but believes all of her education prepared her for it.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When not writing,, she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. Lots of dresses. She is a self-professed coffee addict, fights a constant (and losing) battle with procrastination, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Her adult series are published by Kensington Books.  The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, and Succubus Heat) tell the humorous and heart-breaking story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. On top of that, she must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way.  Richelle's Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen) follows Eugenie Markham, a free-lance shaman who battles ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld. When an alarming prophecy suddenly makes her every Otherworldly creature's object of desire, Eugenie must dodge their advances while also fighting a dark power rising within her.

Richelle's YA series, Vampire Academy, is published by Razorbill Books (Penguin) and thus far contains Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound.  This New York Times and USA Todaybestselling series has won honors from the American Library Association and been translated into 30 languages.  It follows the war between two races of vampires, living and undead. Rose Hathaway, a 17-year old half-vampire, is training to be a bodyguard for the living vampires and finds her life complicated by the dangers that involves, as well as an illicit romance with one of her teachers.

What a Twist!

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Okay, so I've already stated that I love paranormals right? Well, I almost couldn't put this one down. Jeaniene Frost continues the tale of Cat, a half-vampire/vampire hunter, and her completely sexy and annoyingly dominant vampire husband, Bones. Cat is determined to be with her new husband, but there's a little hitch -- someone else has claimed that HE was married to Cat first making her current marriage to Bones invalid. So, with a cast of hilarious characters including several powerful master vampires, a dependent ghost named Fabian, and her best friend Denise Cat tries to outwit this impostor  or is he an impostor  I'm not one to spoil a good book. Check out Destined for an Early Grave and find out what Cat and her witty band of friends are up to.

4 Stars, a page-turner

About Jeaniene

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to fourteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she swears like a sailor, rarely cooks, and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cookbooks frighten her.

Funny and Full of Charm!

A Girl’s Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Joy Randall is a girl after my own heart. Katie captured my attention right off with the back blurb on the book.

Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters

1. Location, location, location. Vampires won’t be caught dead (ha!) in places like discos, ten-minute lube shops, or Switzerland. Remember, if you wouldn’t be there, neither would a bloodsucker.
2. Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He’s your vampire.
3. No matter how tempting it might be, do not “accidentally” acquire a paper cut on your finger and suggest you vampire kiss it to make it better.
4. Play it cool. Don’t offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk-show circuit, and whatever you do, don’t offer him your heart!
5. Most of all, remember: being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

Joy and one of her best friends start off on a wild trip to the Czech Republic where one thing after another seem to add up to spelling nothing but trouble for our two young women. There a several murders in the area which seem to point to none other than the one guy Joy finds irresistible, Raphael. Meanwhile, Joy’s overzealous friend who believes whole-heartedly in vampires is determined to meet the renowned novelist C.J. Dante whose reclusive ways lead Roxy to believing that Dante may really be a vampire.

A Girl’s Guide to Vampires is a fun, quirky, and charming must read. - 4.5 Stars

ABOUT KATIE

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn’t think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.

Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.

Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.

Contact Katie: http://katiemacalister.com/ and sign up for her newsletter.

You can also write to Katie via snail mail at:

Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708

Sexy, suspenseful, and fast-paced

Snow Beast is an interesting mixture of paranormal elements, and a fresh take on the culture and back history of the vampire/werewolf wars. Detective Nikki Adams is a homicide detective in Boston, and is called to a case that is more than unusual. Nikki meets Damon and Jared Blake, two hot vampire twins that assist her with the case. Meanwhile, we meet several interesting characters that add both depth and humor to the story including: her estranged father and a sexy Alpha wolf named Trevor.

Snow Beast is a fast-paced short story that you will not want to put down. While similar in tone to Christine Feehan’s Dark series Snow Beast has its own twists and background culture. Although it is apparent that this is a paranormal romance Zane implies that things could take a turn in a very different direction as the series continues. Zane’s idea of a vampire serial is fun and entertaining, a combination of CSI and the paranormal.

Serena Zane lives with her husband and son in the Northwest. She works hard, plays hard, and spends her free time studying the Middle Ages in a re-creationist organization called the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc (SCA); and writing her novels.
Zane started writing at an early age with short stories, and poetry inspired by her mother, a strong independent woman who loves to help others, and writes as well. In 2009, she became a member of Romance Writer’s of America. She fell in love with the idea of writing a contemporary action/adventure romance while she attended college to study Criminal Justice. After months of working on homework assignments late at night that made her want to turn on every light in the house, she combined both her knowledge of Criminal Justice and her love for all things paranormal.


To check out what Serena is up to via Twitter friend her Tweets by @SerenaZane or check out her website: www.serenazane.com
You can also follow Zane on her blog: Serena Zane - Tales of the Night